The Clothing and Textile Department used their recent Open Day to not only reach potential new students, but teach existing students a valuable lesson.
Business and Marketing lecturer Dr Sweta Patnaik set about 150 first year and second year students the marketing project of helping run the Open Day. Not only did the students have to be based at particular work spaces but they had to brush up on their knowledge about their chosen stations. They also had to create videos related to the Open Day, including their own feedback of the event.
Close to 250 leaners from six different local schools as well as a few teenagers accompanied by their parents were shown around the seven work spaces where students learn about pattern making or computer aided design in the Clothing and Textile Department. They were also shown the Technology Station Clothing and Textiles next door.
Students demonstrated techniques and concepts to learners and encouraged them to ask questions.
This is the tenth annual Clothing and Textile Department Open Day and this year they decided to incorporate a station about career options.
The Education, Training and Development Practices Seta was on hand to explain their bursary scheme which is firstly aimed at people who study education but also provides opportunities in other fields.
“The Departmental Open Day is mainly focused on increasing student intake and a qualitative upliftment of incoming students.
“It is also a mode of reaching out to people who probably aren’t aware of the Department. I am really positive about the uptake this year seeing as we had a career fair for the first time. We will also post student videos on social networking sites to increase and enhance our reach,” said Patnaik.
Written by Theresa Smith
